12 years of slave is the oscar winning historical slave narrative drama directed by steve mcqueen and starring chiwetel ejiofor. The film follows the experience of solomon northup ejiofor, an african american living with a wife and two children in saratoga, new york, who is kidnapped and sold into slavery by men claiming to offer him work as a circus musician. Transported by ship to new orleans, it isnt long before he is given a new name and sold to william ford benedict cumberbatch, a relatively empathetic slave owner. But confrontations with the cruel and violent overseer john tibeats paul dano lead to solomon being passed on by ford to the extremely abusive and alcoholic planter edwin epps michael fassbender, who rules his slaves with a whip in one hand and a bible in the other. Believing the only hope of regaining his freedom is to remain passive for the time being, solomon ceases fighting against the illegitimacy of his situation until salvation is offered to him by a kindly labourer named bass brad pitt. The film won three academy awards, including best picture, best supporting actress lupita nyongo and best adapted screenplay and won the golden globe for best motion picture drama and baftas for best leading actor ejiofor and best film. Running time 128 minutes region region 2 subtitles english release date 12 05 2014